| Rio Grande Valley Killer Bees | |
 | |
| City: | Hidalgo, Texas |
|---|---|
| League: | USA Central Hockey League |
| Founded: | 2018 |
| Home Arena: | State Farm Arena |
| Colors: | Black, Teal, White, and Yellow |
The Rio Grande Valley Killer Bees were an ice hockey team from Hidalgo, Texas. The team was a founding member of the USA Central Hockey League. The league intended to be a tuition-free junior hockey league similar to Tier I and Tier II.[1] The team was based out of State Farm Arena.
This is the third incarnation of the team as the Rio Grande Valley Killer Bees (CHL) played in the Central Hockey League from 2003 to 2012. The team was followed by the Rio Grande Valley Killer Bees (NAHL) played from 2013 to 2015.
The Killer Bees played in the league's inaugural game on October 26, 2018, defeating the Laredo Bucks (USACHL). The league then ran into several arena issues leading to many cancelled and postponed games. The league also had several personnel issues with all initial coaches and the league president leaving the league before one month into the season. By November 14, the media advisor, after failing to receive payment, deleted all social media accounts and the player advisor then began pulling players from the league, leading to short benches and rumors of the league's demise.[2]
The Killer Bees then played a weekend series against the Texas Lawmen, in which the Lawmen only had five players and the two teams player a 3-on-3 showcase series where the Bees lent the Lawmen players in order to play the two games. The Lawmen folded later that week.
On November 30, the Killer Bees travelled to face the Wichita Falls Force, but the Force were then locked out of their arena due to non-payment and folded the following day. With the league down to two teams and several unpaid employees, it cancelled the remainder of the season on December 7, 2018.